Shane Watson, the former Australia allrounder, has been appointed assistant coach of Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2026 season, joining head coach Abhishek Nayar and mentor Dwayne Bravo. Watson, who recently completed a three-season stint as head coach of San Francisco Unicorns in the MLC, brings extensive T20 experience to the KKR setup.
This marks Watson’s second IPL coaching assignment, having served as deputy to Ricky Ponting at Delhi Capitals in 2022 and 2023. He expressed excitement about joining KKR, praising the franchise’s passionate fanbase and commitment to excellence.
Tim Southee also joins KKR’s coaching staff, balancing his franchise commitments with a consultant role with England. The additions come after KKR finished seventh in IPL 2025, prompting a significant overhaul of their management and support staff.
Watson’s decorated T20 career includes IPL, BBL, and PSL titles, highlighted by an MVP performance in Rajasthan Royals’ 2008 IPL triumph and a crucial role in Chennai Super Kings’ 2018 championship run. His expertise is expected to bolster KKR’s bid for another title.
